Re: Tort/Stretching Question for 14.5 Month Old

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark,

My son Jake also had mild tort and had his tilt up until about 16

months of age. The stretching did get tough as he got older and

stronger - he fought me also. The only thing that worked for me was

to stretch him while he was sleeping - right after he fell asleep for

his nap and bedtime. It was the only time I could get a good stretch

and I held it for as long as I could. Another way to stretch is to

make him turn his head on his own. Play with him on the floor and

always sit on the opposite side of the tilt. Get his attention and

make him turn his head using his favorite toys, etc.

Also you said CT told you to do the stretches, but did you ever go to

Physical Therapy for the tort? If you haven't you may want to

consider a PT eval - the physical therapy was very helpful for us.

Along with stretching the tort side you also need to strengthen the

muscles on the opposite side of the neck. Part of the reason you

still see a slight tilt is because those muscles(opposite side of

tort) are too stretched and aren't strong enough to hold the neck

straight. PT helped this.

Jake didn't go to PT for long, but it was enough to give me the info

I needed to help him.

Good Luck!

mom to Jake 21mo(doc band grad 2003)

and Tyler 4yrs.

> Hi,

>

> I posted this question a few days ago on the tort board but

thought I would try here

> as well. My son 's tort was originally diagnosed as quite mild

as the restriction in

> his range of motion was about 15-20 degrees and

> he

> had a slight head tilt. We have been stretching him for several

months now but we

> still notice a slight head tilt and his range of

> motion is

> good, but still slightly restricted. is now 14.5 months old

and we will

> continue to

> stretch him until 18 months as per Cranial Technologies'

instructions. The

> problem is

> that stretching has become almost impossible. weighs almost

30 pounds and

> is

> very big and strong. All the distraction techniques I used to use

no longer

> work. He

> struggles like crazy and screams and cries and cannot be

distracted by anything. In

> fact, when I lay a blanket on the floor he actually runs away

because he knows what is

> coming. When I catch him and scoop him up he writhes and struggles

like crazy. If I

> try to " trick him " and stretch him somewhere or someplace other

than our normal

> places he sees through that quite quickly.

>

> Nothing works to relax him for stretching either as he flips out

as soon as

> realizes

> what is going on. I

> can handle the noise, I just can't get him stretched properly

anymore because of how

> hard he struggles and am

> worried

> about his tort not improving more if I can't stretch him. Has

anyone here dealt

> with

> situation like this, and if so, could you please give me some tips

and

> suggestions.

> Thanks in advance for the help.

>

> Mark (dad to , DOCgrad 1/19)

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark,

Once they get older, babies are hard to stretch. You have to teach

them to stretch on their own. Try this, sit on your lap looking

straight ahead, like out a window or at a toy he really likes. Then

slowly lean him from side to side by holding onto his waist/torso.

It will cause him to " right " his head up straight and in turn he is

doing stretches that will help his tilt. Another way that my husband

does this is to put our son on his shoulders and run around the house

leaning to one side. This also causes Aidan to try and hold his head

straight, in turn, stretching out the muscles while having fun at the

same time. Can you picture this?

Natasha

> Hi,

>

> I posted this question a few days ago on the tort board but

thought I would try here

> as well. My son 's tort was originally diagnosed as quite mild

as the restriction in

> his range of motion was about 15-20 degrees and

> he

> had a slight head tilt. We have been stretching him for several

months now but we

> still notice a slight head tilt and his range of

> motion is

> good, but still slightly restricted. is now 14.5 months old

and we will

> continue to

> stretch him until 18 months as per Cranial Technologies'

instructions. The

> problem is

> that stretching has become almost impossible. weighs almost

30 pounds and

> is

> very big and strong. All the distraction techniques I used to use

no longer

> work. He

> struggles like crazy and screams and cries and cannot be

distracted by anything. In

> fact, when I lay a blanket on the floor he actually runs away

because he knows what is

> coming. When I catch him and scoop him up he writhes and struggles

like crazy. If I

> try to " trick him " and stretch him somewhere or someplace other

than our normal

> places he sees through that quite quickly.

>

> Nothing works to relax him for stretching either as he flips out

as soon as

> realizes

> what is going on. I

> can handle the noise, I just can't get him stretched properly

anymore because of how

> hard he struggles and am

> worried

> about his tort not improving more if I can't stretch him. Has

anyone here dealt

> with

> situation like this, and if so, could you please give me some tips

and

> suggestions.

> Thanks in advance for the help.

>

> Mark (dad to , DOCgrad 1/19)

[Guest guest]

Hello again Mark

This is Sandy from the tort board. I was thinking do you have an

exercise ball? You can get really good streches in with it as

well. You can side lie him on it and do this in front of a

mirror.. Ever tried that? Good luck once again.

Sandy Willow's Mom

> Hi,

>

> I posted this question a few days ago on the tort board but

thought I would try here

> as well. My son 's tort was originally diagnosed as quite mild

as the restriction in

> his range of motion was about 15-20 degrees and

> he

> had a slight head tilt. We have been stretching him for several

months now but we

> still notice a slight head tilt and his range of

> motion is

> good, but still slightly restricted. is now 14.5 months old

and we will

> continue to

> stretch him until 18 months as per Cranial Technologies'

instructions. The

> problem is

> that stretching has become almost impossible. weighs almost

30 pounds and

> is

> very big and strong. All the distraction techniques I used to use

no longer

> work. He

> struggles like crazy and screams and cries and cannot be

distracted by anything. In

> fact, when I lay a blanket on the floor he actually runs away

because he knows what is

> coming. When I catch him and scoop him up he writhes and struggles

like crazy. If I

> try to " trick him " and stretch him somewhere or someplace other

than our normal

> places he sees through that quite quickly.

>

> Nothing works to relax him for stretching either as he flips out

as soon as

> realizes

> what is going on. I

> can handle the noise, I just can't get him stretched properly

anymore because of how

> hard he struggles and am

> worried

> about his tort not improving more if I can't stretch him. Has

anyone here dealt

> with

> situation like this, and if so, could you please give me some

tips and

> suggestions.

> Thanks in advance for the help.

>

> Mark (dad to , DOCgrad 1/19)

[Guest guest]

Mark, my daughter didn't have tort so I can't help you there, just

wanted to wish you luck! I'm sure you will get lots of tips.

Dustie

> Hi,

>

> I posted this question a few days ago on the tort board but

thought I would try here

> as well. My son 's tort was originally diagnosed as quite mild

as the restriction in

> his range of motion was about 15-20 degrees and

> he

> had a slight head tilt. We have been stretching him for several

months now but we

> still notice a slight head tilt and his range of

> motion is

> good, but still slightly restricted. is now 14.5 months old

and we will

> continue to

> stretch him until 18 months as per Cranial Technologies'

instructions. The

> problem is

> that stretching has become almost impossible. weighs almost

30 pounds and

> is

> very big and strong. All the distraction techniques I used to use

no longer

> work. He

> struggles like crazy and screams and cries and cannot be

distracted by anything. In

> fact, when I lay a blanket on the floor he actually runs away

because he knows what is

> coming. When I catch him and scoop him up he writhes and struggles

like crazy. If I

> try to " trick him " and stretch him somewhere or someplace other

than our normal

> places he sees through that quite quickly.

>

> Nothing works to relax him for stretching either as he flips out

as soon as

> realizes

> what is going on. I

> can handle the noise, I just can't get him stretched properly

anymore because of how

> hard he struggles and am

> worried

> about his tort not improving more if I can't stretch him. Has

anyone here dealt

> with

> situation like this, and if so, could you please give me some

tips and

> suggestions.

> Thanks in advance for the help.

>

> Mark (dad to , DOCgrad 1/19)

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark,

I feel for you. My 9 month old is about 23 lbs and is quite a

handful. She has just started PT. I've learned a couple of tricks.

My daughter tilts to the right so you may need to adjust

accordingly. During the PT we attempt to get her to look over her

right shoulder and slightly up for the full 30 minutes. This gets

both muscles stretched. The therapists uses toys and bubbles to

accomplish this. She constantly rearranges na's position so she

has to work to see the toys. Maybe you should do your own 30 minute

therapy session each day. Active stretches do help, a lot. I also

have a list of stretching ideas I have compiled from this group over

the months. Here it is ...

1. A mirror (bathroom or full length), good for range of motion and

head righting stretches.

2. Bubbles

3. A good video

4. Kiss baby's neck as you stretch neck, make " zerberts " in baby's

neck as you stretch it.

5. Tickle face with your hair if long enough

6. Do stretches with baby sitting up

7. Sneak one in while in the tub

8. Turn head while drying hair after bath

9. Hold baby so all exciting things are on the side you want them to

turn towards. When toting baby on your hip make sure it forces them

to turn the way you want to look forward, i.e. baby's flat side is on

the back left, so tote on your right hip. This is considered an

active stretch, which does not require removal of the band.

10. Head righting exercise 1: sit baby on your knee, tilt to bad

side, this causes baby to right the head and thus do the ear to

shoulder stretch. Baby can be facing you or away for this exercise.

This stretch does not require removal of the band.

Head righting exercise 2: hold baby in an angle in your arms so when

baby rights head they get the ear to shoulder stretch. This stretch

does not require removal of the band.

Head righting exercise 3: This one can be fun. Hold baby upside down

at an angle so they have to right their head and get a good stretch.

If they just hang there try to get them to right their head (pull the

shoulder, toy, or talk to them).

11. Get on the floor. Lay baby on back. Sit over baby but don't put

any weight on him. Put baby's legs under your body held between your

legs. You should be kind of sitting on your knees. This holds baby

down so you have some leverage to get the stretches done. Yes, baby

may continue to scream with this one, but at least he can't get away.

12. On the floor again, this one is more fun and tricky. Lay baby

on side, facing away from you, ear (of bad side) on the floor. Put

one hand on top shoulder for control (to keep baby from rolling). You

can also place your knee behind baby's shoulder to keep them in

position. Place other hand under baby's hips. Pick up baby's hips

so the floor is doing ear to shoulder stretch. You can get a really

good deep stretch.

13. Hold baby in arms facing away from you with bad ear in crook of

arm. Cradle under legs/hips. Adjust arms to do the ear to shoulder

stretch. Your forearm holding the head should be at the ear. If you

have really long arms you can reach below and pull the shoulder to

get a deeper stretch.

HTH

mom to na

DOC Grad 2/20/04

Tort baby

> Hi,

>

> I posted this question a few days ago on the tort board but

thought I would try here

> as well. My son 's tort was originally diagnosed as quite mild

as the restriction in

> his range of motion was about 15-20 degrees and

> he

> had a slight head tilt. We have been stretching him for several

months now but we

> still notice a slight head tilt and his range of

> motion is

> good, but still slightly restricted. is now 14.5 months old

and we will

> continue to

> stretch him until 18 months as per Cranial Technologies'

instructions. The

> problem is

> that stretching has become almost impossible. weighs almost

30 pounds and

> is

> very big and strong. All the distraction techniques I used to use

no longer

> work. He

> struggles like crazy and screams and cries and cannot be

distracted by anything. In

> fact, when I lay a blanket on the floor he actually runs away

because he knows what is

> coming. When I catch him and scoop him up he writhes and struggles

like crazy. If I

> try to " trick him " and stretch him somewhere or someplace other

than our normal

> places he sees through that quite quickly.

>

> Nothing works to relax him for stretching either as he flips out

as soon as

> realizes

> what is going on. I

> can handle the noise, I just can't get him stretched properly

anymore because of how

> hard he struggles and am

> worried

> about his tort not improving more if I can't stretch him. Has

anyone here dealt

> with

> situation like this, and if so, could you please give me some tips

and

> suggestions.

> Thanks in advance for the help.

>

> Mark (dad to , DOCgrad 1/19)